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(N0 Modem 3 SheetsSheet 1. G; G. ARMSTRONG. ELEGTRIOAL INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS.

Patented Nov. 10,1891.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. C. G. ARMSTRONG. ELECTRICAL INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS.

No. 462,835. Patented Nov. 10,1891.

3 SheetsSheet 3.

(No Model.) O. G. ARMSTRONG. ELECTRICAL INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS. No. 462,835. Patented Nov. 10,1891.

IE I, A :5: W///////////////////////// I Igl I lg! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. ARMSTRONG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DANKMAR ADLER, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,835, dated November 10, 1891.

I Application filed March 10, 1891. Serial No. 384,396. (No model.)

To (10% whom may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. ARM- STRONG, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Electric Indicators for Elevators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to indicators for elevators, and has for its object to provide an electrically-operated mechanism by means of which the position of the elevator will be simultaneously indicated at a suitable point on each floor of the building, so that the location and direction of movement of the elevator-car may be known by a simple inspection of the indicator.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a structure embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation or face view of the indicator proper. Fig. 4: is a view of the same with the face-plate or dial removed. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. e. Fig.6 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig.-

1. Fig. '7 is a side view of the same.

In Figs. 1, 3, 4t, 5, 6, and 7 I have shown an apparatus in which my invention is practically carried out in one way. The diagram shown in Fig. 1 illustrates the general arrangement of the apparatus, while the remaining figures show the operative parts thereof in detail. In said diagram, A indi cates the elevator well or shaft, and A A A A the stories or floors of the building, these parts being indicated in dotted lines. At each floor is located an indicator at some suitable point where it may be readily consultedas. for instance, over or at the side of the elevator-door. Each indicator is composed, essentially, of an armatured index or pointer and a plurality of electro-magnets corresponding, in number with the number of floors of the building served by the elevator. For instance, in the present case, in which four stories are shown, there are four indicators B, O, D, and E, located, respectively, on the floors A, A A and A. The indicator B comprises the electro-magnets 13, 13 ,13, and B and the armatured index or pointer 13. The indicator 0 comprises the electromagnets O, (1 ,0 and O and the armatured index or pointer C. The indicator 1) comprises the electro-magnets D, D D and D and the armatured index or pointer I). The indicator E comprises the electro-magnets E, E E and E" and the armatured index or pointer At some suitable pointas, for instance, at the bottom of the elevator-shaft, as shown in Fig. 1-is arranged a circuitcloser, which is in the present instance a commutator F, operated by the hoisting mechanism or car in any suitable manner. As shown, it consists, essentially, of a pivoted contact-arm F and a fixed arcf, having insulated segments f, f f and f", corresponding in number to the floors or stories of the building.

The magnets 15, O, I), and E and the co1nmutator-segmentf are connectedin a series by means of a wire G, and are therefore 10- eated in a separate circuit. The magnets B C D and and the commutator-segment f are similarly connected by ineansof a wire G The magnets B 0, D and and the commutator-segment f are connected in a series by a wire G while the magnets 13*, OflD, and E and the commutator-segment f are similarly connected by a wire G. These several wires are united at one end for instance, the upper end, as shown in Fig. 1to a common return-wire G, which connects with the contact-arm F and thus completes the circuit, which latter is provided with a battery G, located therein at some suitable point.

The operation is as follows: The elevatorcar being in its lowest position at the first floor, the contact-arm F bears upon the segmentf and the current passes through the circuit G G, the electro-magnets of the first series ll, O, D, and E being in said circuit and being energized, so that they attract the corresponding armatured indexes or pointers B, C, D, and E and hold them in position to indicate upon a suitable dial the position of the elevator. As the car moves upward the contact-arm F" moves to a correspondin g or proportional extent, so that when the car reaches the second floor the contactarm will bear upon the second segment f of the commutator. The circuit is nowestablished through G G, and the second series of magnets B C D and E being in said circuit, will be energized and will in their turn attract and hold the indexes or pointers B C D and E Similarly when the carreaches the third story the contact-arm F will bear on the third segmentf of the commutator and the circuit G3 G and the third series of magnets B O ,D and E therein will be energized and will attract and hold theindexes or pointers. lVhen the elevator reaches the fourth story, the contact-arm will bearon the fourth segment f, and the circuit Gr G with the fourth series of electro-magnets B, C D and E will be energized and the indexes or pointers of the several indicators moved and held accordingly. \Vhatever the position of the car may be, the position of the contactarm will be a corresponding one, and the corresponding series of magnets will be energized to indicate such position through the medium of the pointers.

It is obvious that relative arrangements of the magnets of the indicator other than that shown may be made, and the movement of the index or pointer. may be in a straight line, instead of in the arc of a circle. In other words, ,the pointer may slide and the magnets may be arranged in a corresponding straight line. Moreover, any approved form of commutator or circuit-closer may be substituted for that shown.

I will now describe in detail the operative parts of the apparatus, it being of course understood from what precedes that while the forms shown and described are those which I prefer I do not in any way limit myself to them.

The indicator proper B is shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and has an inclosing casing H, provided with a removable face plate or cover H, forming a dial having figures or numerals h thereon to designate the several floors or stories. The cover H is secured by screws h, which pass through the marginal flange of said cover into apertured lugs ]L2 on the body of the casing.

I represents a base-plate secured to the inner face of the back of the casing H and carrying a supporting-bracket I, on which the various operative parts are mounted. The bracket 1 has at its top a flange 2', having the segmental form shown, and on this flange are mounted the electro-magnets B, B B and B the cores of which extend through said flange and may project below the same to a slight extent, if desired. At its lower end the bracket 1 is provided with a flange i, from which rises an upright 4?. This upright forms one bearing of a shaft j, the other bearingof which is formed in the bracket 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

J indicates a radial arm on said shaft provided with an armature j to cooperate with the electromagnets B, B B and B and J indicates an index or pointer mounted on the shaftj at its forward end, where it extends through a suitable aperture in the cover H. The arm J is parallel with the arm J and travels over the figures h on the dial of the cover. These partsthe armsJ and J, shaft j, and armature jform as a whole the armatured index or pointer B, referred to in the description of Fig. 1.

For purposes hereinafter set forth, 1 contemplate providing the index or pointer with a brake or detent, and in Figs. 4; and 5 I have shown a construction which I have devised for this purpose. On the shaft j there is mounted a segment K, the periphery of which may be roughened, if desired. Below the segment K is located an electro-magnet K, mounted between the flangei and an arm 2' on the base-plate I, its core extending upward through the flange 1', while its coil forms a portion of the return-wire G Between the segment K and electro-magnet K is arranged a brake K consisting of a spring 70, secured on the flange Q1 and tending normally to engage the segment K, said spring being provided on its under side with an armature 76', located in the field of the magnet K, and on its upper side with a brake-shoe k preferably of brass or other comparatively soft metal, as is also the segment K. It will be seen that when the electro-magnet K is energized it will attract the armature 7c and thus draw the spring 7c downward, thereby disengaging the brake-shoe from the segment K. At all other times, however, the said shoe engages the segment and holds the shaft 3' and its connected parts stationary.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown in detail the commutator F, referred to in describing Fig. 1, as well as one form of operating mechanism therefor. In this construction L represents a suitable base, and L an upright thereon, on which latter the fixed arc fis mounted. The ends of the Wires G, G G and G are secured to a corresponding series of bindingposts 9 on top of the upright L, a separate series of wires g, g g and g being used to connect the several binding-posts and main wires with the respective segments ff f f" of the fixed arc f. In a suitable bearing Z on the base L is mounted a shaft M, which carries the contact-arm F, and is provided with a worm-wheel m, with which meshes a worm m on a shaft M, arranged at right angles to the shaft M in suitable bearings Z onthe base L. The end of the shaft M extends beyond the base L and receives a sprocket-wheel N, or other means for applying power to said shaft, to rotate the same. It will be observed that all the parts so far enumerated are mounted on the base L, so that the entire commutator forms aseparate machine, which may be moved from point to point and may be set up and removed as a whole with great convenience.

In the present instance I have shown the commutator as employed in connection with a hydraulic elevator of the vertical-cylinder type and actuated from the piston-rod thereof. 0 represents such a piston-rod, O the yoke, and O the pulley or wheel thereof, around which the cable 0 passes. P represents a sprocket-chain connected with the yoke O at one end and passing over the sprocket-wheel N, its other end being provided with a counter-weight p, by which it is kept taut. It is obvious that the motion of the elevator-car resulting from the rise and fall of the piston-rod 0 will be communicated in a corresponding degree to the contact-arm F, the several parts being so proportioned that the movement of the arm over one segment of the arc f will correspond exactly with the movement of the car through one s ory of the building.

As I have already stated, the commutator F may be of any approved form, and may, in fact, be dispensed with, other forms of circuit-closing devices being substituted therefor. As an illustration,I have shown in Fig. 2 a modified form of apparatus in which circuit-closing devices, partly on the elevatorcar and partly on the wall of the elevatorshaft, are employed. In this construction there is attached to the car a contact-plate Q, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) and there are arranged in pairs 011 the wall of the shaft or some other suitable support contactpieces Q, Q Q and Q at each story of the building. One contact-piece of each pair is connected with the corresponding; wire G, G G or G and the remaining contact-pieces of the several pairs are all connected with the return-wire G which has a series of brake-controlling electro-ma-gnets K I I K one in each indicator and all similar in the construction and operation of their associated parts to the electro-magnet K and the brake mechanism controlled thereby, which has. already been fully described. The wire G after itleaves the coil of the magnet K, is connected with the coils of each of the magnets B, B B and B' by means of branch wires g", as indicated in Fig. 2.

In order to illustrate the operation of the apparatus thus modified, suppose the car to be moving forward. With the parts in the position shown, the contact-plate Q on the car being in contact with both of the contactpieces Q of the second story, the current passes from one of the contact-pieces Q through the wire and the battery G, and also through the coils of the series of brake controlling magnets K K K and K, thereby retracting the brake-springs and freeing the indexes or pointers. The current passes thence through the proper branch wire 9 to the coil of the magnet B and thence through the wire G and the coils of the other magnets 0 D and of the second series to the other contact-piece Q the contact-plate Q completing the circuit. The magnets of the second series being thus energized attract and hold their respective indexes or pointers until the time when the contact-plate Q. passes clear of the contact-pieces Q when the circuit is broken, and the springs 7; act to engage the several brake-shoes 7,5 with their segments K and thus hold the pointers in position until the next floor is reached by the car, when the circuit is again established; but this time through the third series of electro magnets. In each case the brakes are released during the operative period of the magnets of the several series and applied simultaneously with the cessation of such period to hold the pointers until the next series comes into play.

The brake mechanism shown may be employed in conjunction with the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1, if desired, as a means for holding the pointers in position during the passage of the contact-arm from one seg ment of the commutator to the next segment, and will operate in an obvious manner to prevent the pointers from falling by gravity out of the field of the next series of magnets it the currentbe interrupted during such passage.

lYhat I claim is -1. The combination, with an elevator-shafthaving a plurality of doorways, an elevator and its actuating mechanism, of an indicating device comprising a battery or other source of electricity, a plurality of indicators, one located at each doorway, and each consisting of a plurality of electro-magnets equal in number to the indicators, an index or pointer, a dial having characters indicating the several doorways, and a movable armature connected with and actuating said pointer, conductors forming a plurality of circuits, each of which includes one magnet of each indicator, and a commutator or circuit-closer actuated by a moving part of the elevator mechanism, and which operates to successively close the said several circuits during the movement of the elevator, substantially as described.

2. An indicator for elevators, comprising a battery or other source or generator of electricity, an index or pointer, a movable armature connected with and actuating said index or pointer, a brake for controlling said armature and pointer, an electro-magnet controlling the said brake, a plurality of electromagnets for successively actuating said armature, and a commutator or other circuit-closer actuated by a moving part of the elevator to successively energize said electro-magnets.

3. In an indicator for elevators, the combination, with the index or pointer and its shaft, of a sector mounted on said shaft, a springactuated brake normally engaging said sector, and an electro-magnet arranged in the circuit and adapted when energized to withdraw said brake from engagement with said sector.

4. In an indicator for elevators, the combination, with indicators embracing electromagnets and armatures constructed and ar ranged as set forth, of a commutator comprising a fixed are composed of insulated segments, each connected with a corresponding series of eleetro-magnets, and a contact-arm connected with each of said series of electromagnets and actuated from a moving part of the elevator to successively bear on each of i said segments.

5. In an indicator for elevators, the combination, with a segmental commutator are, of

Witnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN, GEORGE \V. HIGGINS, .Tr.

ARMS'IRONG. 

